GVN PROTESTS RFA POSTING ON CRITICAL BIOGRAPHY OF HO CHI

UNCLAS HANOI 000139 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV VM SUBJECT: GVN PROTESTS RFA POSTING ON CRITICAL BIOGRAPHY OF HO CHI MINH 1.(U) DCM was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 19 for a meeting with Acting Americas Director General Vu Viet Dung in which Dung formally protested the posting on the Radio Free Asia (RFA) website of a video interview with Duong Thu Huong, author of a new book on the life of Ho Chi Minh. Dung said the book "tarnishes" the image of Ho Chi Minh and hurts the feelings of people in Vietnam. The GVN therefore urges that the interview be removed from the RFA website, Dung said. DCM noted that State Department does not exercise editorial control over RFA but promised to convey the GVN's protest to Washington. 2.(U) Dung also handed over a formal diplomatic note on the issue. Unofficial embassy translation of Diplomatic Note No. 81/NGP-CM: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi and has the honor to touch upon the following issue. Recently, the website of the Radio Free Asia carried excerpts of documentary pictures of President Ho Chi Minh with the title "Real Life Story of Mr. Ho" in an attempt to promote a book with distorted content, staining President Ho Chi Minh. This act by RFA not only stained the highly respected image of President Ho Chi Minh, but also seriously hurt the sentiments of the Vietnamese people, igniting public resentment in Vietnam, and going against the interests of Vietnam-U.S. relationship. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has the honor to request that the U.S. Department of State and other relevant offices apply appropriate measures against RFA and request that it remove the above-mentioned content from its website. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi the assurances of its highest consideration. Hanoi, February 19, 2009 End text. MICHALAK